Joe Burrow has sent a clear message to the Cincinnati Bengals that they should all they can to retain Tee Higgins and sign him to a new contract, as well as keeping and extending Ja’Marr Chase.
The Bengals are facing losing Higgins this offseason, with the wide receiver set to become a free agent in the same summer that will see Chase given his contract extension – something the organization may struggle with while not having the necessary cap space.
Higgins knows that the Bengals will likely have to choose between himself and Chase, with the latter leading the league in receiving yards, catches and touchdowns this year will set to receive a market-setting contract – potentially meaning Higgins will leave as a free agent, something Burrow hopes the Bengals do not let happen.
Burrow told reporters: “Whenever a great player leaves, you wish you could have found a way to keep them. You dont want to make a living out of letting great players leave the building. And I think thats why you want to do everything you can to get these things done early.”
This comes after Higgins was asked about his future this past week, when he had said: “This could have been my last game playing here in this stadium with stripes on. I wanted to go out with a bang. Hopefully its not, but you never know what the future holds. You cant go out any better way.”
Higgins actively looked for a trade last offseason, with reports emerging that he handed in a request to be dealt just hours before the NFL Draft. No deal was agreed upon though, with the Bengals keeping Higgins and signing him to a franchise-tag, keeping him with the team for another year on a $21 million deal.
One of the better wide receivers in the league, Higgins will likely command a huge deal himself this offseason after scoring 10 touchdowns while scoring 35 over the past five seasons.
Burrow’s offense will take a significant hit should Higgins leave, in a year that the team has already struggled while having an 8-8 record and needing other results to go their way to make the playoffs.
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